Methods of diagnosing and treating pancreatic cancer

Abstract

A method of diagnosing pancreatic cancer in a subject is provided. The method comprising determining a level and/or activity of at least one saliva secreted marker in a saliva sample of the subject wherein an alteration in said marker with respect to an unaffected saliva sample is indicative of the pancreatic cancer.

1 . A method of diagnosing pancreatic cancer in a subject, the method comprising determining a level and/or activity of at least one marker in a saliva sample of the subject, said at least one marker being selected from the group consisting of myeloperoxidase precursor, protein S100-A8, transthyretin precursor, lipocalin-1 precursor, transketolase and keratin type I cytoskeletal 10, wherein an alteration in said marker with respect to an unaffected saliva sample is indicative of the pancreatic cancer. 
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method of monitoring treatment efficacy of a pancreatic cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising:
 (a) treating the subject against said pancreatic cancer; and   (b) determining a level and/or activity of at least one marker in a saliva sample of the treated subject, said at least one marker being selected from the group consisting of myeloperoxidase precursor, protein S100-A8, transthyretin precursor, lipocalin-1 precursor, transketolase and keratin type I cytoskeletal 10,   
       wherein an alteration in said level and/or activity of said at least one marker with respect to same in a saliva sample taken prior to said treatment, rendering said level and/or activity more similar to that in an unaffected sample, is indicative of an efficacious treatment. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising removing amylase from said saliva sample. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said removing said amylase comprises: contacting the saliva sample with starch under conditions enabling binding between the amylase and the starch; and separating between the starch-amylase bound complexes and the free components, thereby removing the bound amylase; and collecting the non-bound components. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating pancreatic cancer, the method comprising:
 (a) diagnosing the pancreatic cancer in a subject in need thereof according to the method of  claim 1 ; and   (b) treating the subject against the pancreatic cancer.   
     
     
         12 . A kit for diagnosing pancreatic cancer in a subject, the kit comprising a packaging material which comprises at least one agent which specifically determines a level and/or activity of at least one marker selected from the group consisting of myeloperoxidase precursor, protein S100-A8, transthyretin precursor, lipocalin-1 precursor, transketolase, keratin type I cytoskeletal 10, Histone H4, basic salivary proline-rich protein precursor, histone H2B type 1-A, apolipoprotein A-I precursor, short palate lung, nasal epithelium carcinoma-associated protein 2 precursor, alpha-2-macroglobulin precursor, small proline-rich protein 2A, azurocidin precursor, histone H2B type 1-B, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase decarboxylating, alpha-amylase 1 precursor, hemoglobin subunit alpha and hemoglobin subunit delta, in a saliva sample of the subject. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A device for diagnosing pancreatic cancer, the device comprising a support and at least one agent for specifically determining a level and/or activity of at least one marker in a biological sample of the subject attached to said support, wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of myeloperoxidase precursor, protein S100-A8, transthyretin precursor, lipocalin-1 precursor, transketolase, keratin type I cytoskeletal 10, Histone H4, basic salivary proline-rich protein precursor, histone H2B type 1-A, apolipoprotein A-I precursor, short palate lung, nasal epithelium carcinoma-associated protein 2 precursor, alpha-2-macroglobulin precursor, small proline-rich protein 2A, azurocidin precursor, histone H2B type 1-B, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase decarboxylating, alpha-amylase 1 precursor, hemoglobin subunit alpha and hemoglobin subunit delta. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one agent is an antibody. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , being a lateral flow device. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14 , being a dipstick or a cartridge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said alteration in said marker comprises an increased activity or expression. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said alteration in said marker comprises a decreased activity or expression. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of histone H2B type 1-B, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase decarboxylating, alpha-amylase 1 precursor, hemoglobin subunit alpha and hemoglobin subunit delta. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of transketolase, keratin type I cytoskeleton 10, hemopexin precursor, alpha 2 macroglobulin precursor. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining said level is at the protein level. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said saliva sample comprises unstimulated saliva. 
     
     
         24 - 26 . (canceled)